Gal. 6:1 - Restore One Another

1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

Help Each Other, Gently

“even if anyone is caught in any trespass” - Paul understands there is no such thing as “sinless perfection” (until we are with the Lord). Our reborn spirit will be permanently bonded with our new miraculous body. “We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.” (1 John 3:2b)
What a fantastic thing to ponder: He could go through walls, closed doors, ascend into heaven! We get to share in that. We will walk with God in the New Jerusalem. “Behold, the Tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes...” (Rev. 21:3,4). What a great one to contemplate.

Almost all of the letters in the Bible canon recognize believers will sin. (See: Rom. 7:15-17) When we sin, we have a remedy - confession and repentance. (See: 1 John 1:8,9) When a believer sins, the reputation of the church (local body of Christ) may be damaged. What are we to do? Cast them into the outer darkness until they are perfect? (See: Matt. 18:15-17) Pray for them? (See: Jam. 5:15, 19-20.) We must be humble, knowing we also will sin. We must comfort, cajole, exhort the person who has fallen to win them back into a right relationship with Jesus.

“you who are spiritual” - Who among us is spiritual? That is not a facetious question. My spirituality is between Jesus and me. So then, how do others know I may be spiritual? I mean, how will others come to believe that I am controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit? The answer is found in Gal. 5:22-25. If we are in Christ, i.e., controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we will bear much fruit. (See also: John 15:2, 4-8)
The “bearing fruit” is often used to mean to lead others to Christ so they may be saved. That is true, but Jesus promised an abundant life. (See: John 10:10) Compare Gal. 5:19-21 to Gal. 5:22-25. Which lifestyle is manifest to others as you go through each day - (vss. 19-21) or (vss.22-25)? It should be intuitively obvious to the most casual observer. (See: 1 John 3:10.)

“restore such a one” - Bring that believer back to spirituality! Not thinking of ‘Pharisaic spirituality’ - where it seems to be all surface, all display but no substance. Removing someone from fellowship in the local church is the last resort. Only when that person refuses to repent, refuses to confess; only when that person turns his back on the church is the drastic measure taken. Without Christian fellowship, exhortation, teaching there is little hope for reversal. If, however, that person confesses before the believers and repents of his behavior there is hope for spiritual healing. Those who truly repent will encourage others to hold them accountable. (See: Matt. 18:15-17; Jam. 5:19-20, 2 Thess. 3:13-15)

“each one looking to yourself” - Do these ‘interventions’ with gentleness so you will not be tempted by pride to consider yourself better than others. Be humble. Be subject to the Lord. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Pride is blandly sinister: How can you not like yourself and your accomplishments? Pride leads us headlong into destruction (Pro. 16:18). God does not like pride; actually, He hates it. (Pro. 8:13).
Humbleness can keep us from stumbling into sin by centering us on Christ. By living in His power and love for us. We recognize that it is nothing we can do to save us; we are wholly dependent on Him. If there is no sin in your life and behavior, it is because the Holy Spirit has guided you, and you have followed His lead. (See: Pro. 29:23).
Be careful, be very careful.

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Gal. 5:22-26 - Fruit of the Spirit

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Live by the Spirit

Vs. 22-23: - “Fruit of the Spirit” - These nine characteristics are set off against the fifteen ‘deeds of the flesh’ seen in the previous verses.
Love - This is the agape love, the forgiving, forgetting love we cherish that is the gift of God to us. We should not deceive ourselves in thinking that God actually ‘forgets’ our transgressions. He does not; He cannot - He is omniscient. Believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior means that His sacrifice has paid the penalty. The wrath that should have fallen on us has been paid by Jesus. God ‘forgets’ in that He recognizes the price is paid in full in Jesus. There are no ‘Accounts Receivable’ when we are in Jesus Christ.
Joy - a calm delight, gladness
Peace - the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, fearing nothing from God
Patience - forbearance, long-suffering, slowness in avenging wrongs
Kindness - moral goodness, integrity, benignity
Goodness - uprightness of heart and life,
Faithfulness - the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, esp. his sensual appetite. This trait goes hand-in-hand with self-control.
Gentleness - mildness of disposition, humility
Self-Control - mastery of desires and passions, especially sensual appetites.

- “Against such things” - These are not deeds of the flesh. Those are part of this world and draw us away from Jesus (See: Gal. 5:19-21). Are we to combat the flesh with rules and restrictions? Do rules make our lives easier or better? Jesus did not give us new and better rules and rituals. He came to set us free.
The beginning of this chapter says “It was for freedom that Christ set us free.” Two things are required - love God and love each other - everything else follows. Jesus gives abundant life. Such life does not come by following rules. It comes from the freedom of loving Him, and being loved in return. Joy comes from Jesus. Seek Him. Freedom and joy will follow.

Someone will ask,”How will I know that Christ lives in me?” Or, “Without the rules, procedures, and rituals how will I know that I am a successful Christian?” Or, “Will I feel different?” “Will I see the world differently?” “How will others know that I am saved?”
Jesus did not say, “Bear down. Work harder.” Nor did He say, “Work smarter, not harder.” He said, “Follow Me.” “Take up your cross and follow Me.” I do not think the ‘cross’ is some burden, illness, or circumstance that you must suffer (although that is the way this metaphor is commonly used). The ‘cross’ is voluntarily giving our life to Jesus, surrendering wholly just as He offered Himself as a sacrifice for us. Tell Him your life is not your own, but His. The fruit of the Spirit will be manifest in your life as you focus on Jesus Christ where He is, seated at the right hand of God in heaven. (See: Col. 3:1-4)

These nine characteristics will be outward symptoms of your commitment to Jesus Christ. Just as the fifteen deeds of the flesh are symptomatic of your life owned and controlled by Satan. Satan does not have permanent possession of you unless you reject Jesus as Lord and Savior. When you give your live to Jesus, you become His. No one nor anything can take you from Him.

Side Note: notice the pattern of the fruit, three groups of three. Three single-syllable words, three two-syllable words, and three three-syllable words. I don’t think there is any deep significance in that pattern, but it is a nice mnemonic.

24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Vs. 24 - “Crucified the flesh” - The body you now live in is dead when you are born again. When you are resurrected, or when Christ returns, you get a new body - a perfect body. A body that is suitable for a permanent home for our reborn spirit. The new body is not damaged by sin. “Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.” (1 Cor. 6:13)
Just as you voluntarily accept Christ as Savior (a.k.a., free will), you are voluntarily discarding the present body. “knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;” (Rom. 6:6)
The picture is the present body being put to death, crucified on the cross of Jesus. Jesus said, “Take up your cross...” (Matt. 16:24; Mk. 8:34) “Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.” (1 Cor. 12:27) “it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” (1 Cor. 15:44) “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.” (Col. 3:5) “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 6:11) “If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” (Rom. 8:10)

Vs. 25 - “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

“If we live... also walk” - This is not an “If-Then” conditional statement. It is more like a ‘Since-Therefore” construction. To paraphrase this sentence: “Since we are alive by the power of the Spirit of God, therefore we need to live in the same power.”
Paul has spent the last four and one-half chapters of this letter pounding the concept we are not saved by works or by the Law. We are saved by Christ crucified and resurrected, and by the Holy Spirit given to us when we believe and accept Jesus as Savior. We are not saved by deeds, even deeds done in righteous effort. We are saved by His mercy. We are saved by the renewing by the Holy Spirit. (See: Titus 3:5).

So, if you are saved - given eternal life - by the Spirit, why would you want to live that new life by following the same kind of rules that could not save you? Making people obey rules puts burdens on them; we rob people of the joy of being saved. Jesus said, “My burden is light.” We have been set free!

In our world, or fleshly nature, we are bullied by death, sin, shame. We are frustrated and lash out, or try escaping through activity or drugs. There is no joy in life being beset by sin. When we live in the Spirit, we have freedom - from committing sin, from guilt and shame. We are free to contemplate living forever with God the Father and Jesus. When hampered by sin in our lives, it is almost impossible to think about eternity. Sin, guilt and shame hanging over us clouds our vision of eternity.

We are to be different - our old nature, the one we were born with - is tuned to the world. When we accept Christ we are reborn with a new nature, one attuned to the Lord.“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor. 5:17)

Vs. 26 - “Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”

“Let us not become boastful... challenging... envying” - It is far too easy to feel superior to others. “I have Christ and you don’t!” “I’m going to heaven. What about you?” We can easily become like the Pharisee praying, “... God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.” (Luk. 18:11) At no time can we brag, “Look what I have done!” Too easily we compare ourselves to others. (See: Rom. 12:3; 2 Cor. 10:12). We are also warned to “do nothing from selfishness and empty conceit.” (Phil. 2:3).

We cannot manufacture joy, love, or peace in our hearts and souls. These are a gift from God through our Savior Jesus Christ. You will not find joy in following rules and laws. You will not be at peace with God by regulation. I am pretty sure you will not be filled with love by obedience to rituals. Love, Joy, and Peace flow from a heart filled and controlled by the Grace of God through His Holy Spirit. Surrender to Him and be filled.

It is difficult enough living our faith in this broken and hostile world. There is no reason to over-burden ourselves with matters that ultimately do not matter! They do not matter in the sense that we cannot be saved by them, we can not live a life worthy of the sacrifice by them. We can only frustrate ourselves as come to believe we are failures.”

We are not failures in Christ. We are more than conquerors! We are children of God! We have hope! (See: 1 Tim. 4:10.)

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Gal. 5:19-21 - Deeds of the Flesh

19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the miracles they kingdom of God.

Not a Good List to be On

I have struggled writing about these verses. These verses are not meek and mild. They are in your face regarding sin in your life - the practice of sin. I do not think these verses are saying that without Christ you will DO ALL those listed. There are at least two aspects to this discussion: behaviors and practice.

Behaviors: The world is the province of Satan. In his domain there is no reason not to participate in the ‘deeds of the flesh’. Paul recognizes the dilemma we face, when our old nature tries to take over from the Holy Spirit. See Rom. 7:15-25. We are slaves to the sin nature. Only by the sacrifice and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ are those chains and shackles broken.
We will have two natures within us until we are resurrected or go to be with Jesus -
(1) the old sin nature of the world, and
(2) the new one given to us by Christ.
The battle within us is always choosing between them. We are tempted by our desires from within. Desires give birth to sin, which leads to death. (See: Jam. 1:14-16.)

Practice: We don’t do all the deeds listed, but we do some. This is not about the occasional fall or sin, but a pattern, “serial sinning”. This pattern of behavior shows there is no commitment to the new way of life. Is it ignorance or recalcitrance? See: Eccl.12:11-14, Solomon had tried collecting wisdom; he had tried being powerful; he had tried being rich. In the end, the only thing that mattered was obedience to God’s commands.

Similarly, in the NT, clinging to Christ and Him resurrected is what brings freedom. Deeds of the flesh are easy. Following Jesus takes real commitment.

Vs. 19 - Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,

“Deeds of the flesh” - Paul tells us some telltale behaviors in the next two paragraphs that will point out the differences you should see. He gives us two lists - fifteen or sixteen behaviors of those who do not have the Spirit of God controlling their life, and nine characteristics of those who do have the Spirit. This list is similar to others in the NT: Rom. 13:13; Mk 7:21-22; 1 Cor. 5:10-11, 6:9-10; 2 Cor. 12:20-21; Eph. 4:31, 5:3-5; Col. 3:5, 8; 1 Tim. 1:9-10; 2 Tim. 3:2; Rev. 21:8, 22:15.

Living in the flesh. The following definitions come from a concordance, and show the word usage. I think these fifteen characteristics of ‘deeds of the flesh’ can divided into three categories based on the verses in 1 John 2:15-16 where we read all that is of the world (flesh) is “lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life”.
The following list includes at least three (3) characteristics in the ‘lust of the eyes’ group, (or maybe also in ‘lust of the flesh’.) There are two (2) concerning false religions, with seven (7) regarding relationships in the ‘boast pride of life’ group. The last two (2) characteristics with ‘lust of flesh.’

The first three deal with immorality.

Immorality - illicit sexual intercourse, including but not limited to: adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.

Impunity - uncleanness: physical; in a moral sense: the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living.

Sensuality - unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence. The three listed above are all sexual sins and attitudes.

Vs. 20 - idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,

The following are about holding to false religions and the attending practices. As we read through the Bible, especially in the OT, it is clear that turning from God to false religions - unfaithfulness - is religious adultery.

Idolatry - the worship of false gods, practices and rituals honoring false gods.

Sorcery - magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it.

These next nine characteristics all deal with personal ego and pride (perhaps that is redundant). Again, see 1 John 2:15-16, for “the Boastful Pride of Life”. Each of these deal with a person demanding his way, placing his wants and needs over and above all others, even with respect to God.

Enmities - hostility and hatred

Strife - contention, wrangling

Jealousy - excitement of mind, ardor, fervor of spirit, fierceness of indignation, punitive zeal.

Outbursts of anger - passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again.

Disputes - a desire to put one's self forward, a partisan and fractious spirit.

Dissensions - divisions

Factions - a body of men following their own tenets (sect or party).

Envying - envy (This word is actually located in verse 21.)

Vs. 21a - “envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these...”

The focus of the following characteristics is losing control of your mind and emotions by artificial means - using alcohol and drugs. Again these are related to the ‘lust of the flesh.’

Drunkenness - drinking to excess

Carousing - drinking and partying to excess.

Etc. - other stuff.

I have forewarned you

Vs. 21b - “... of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

“Forewarned” - He is saying I told you before, and it is worth repeating... These behaviors are not good things. Our behavior is a display of our belief system. This is most clearly demonstrated in what we say, for our words express what we believe combined with our feelings. We speak our hearts and minds. Jesus was quite clear on this matter. (See: Matt. 15:18, 19; Mk. 7:21; Lk. 6:45) Paul urges us to “no longer be conformed to the pattern of this world.” (Rom. 12:2)

“Those who practice” - We practiced these things in ignorance because we had not received the Holy Spirit who leads and teaches us the way we should live. Peter exhorts to not return to our ignorant ways. (1 Pet. 1:14-16). However, when we have heard the truth, the gospel, but refuse to change our behavior it is no longer acting out of ignorance, but rebellion. We do not obey because we do not believe.

“Will not inherent the kingdom of God” - This is harsh, stark statement. Very black and white, no shades of grey. We don’t like the idea. “You can’t judge me,” is a common refrain. “ Their behavior is between them and God”. We can’t know if they are ‘right with God’ or not. Yet, these words are not wishy-washy. We want wiggle-room, but it does not appear there is any, at all.

How do we combat these things, these fruit of the world and flesh? Do we pile on more rules, regulations, rituals, sacrifices? Why would anyone want to change their life for Christ if the result was an ever increasing burden of dogma, dos and don’ts? The joy and love of Jesus give us the answer. The next list provides direction for our life in Christ.

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Gal. 5:16-18 - Spirit vs. Flesh

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Holy Spirit Led Life

Vs. 16 - “Walk by the Spirit” - “Walk” is used in the sense of way of regulating your life by following the way of Christ. Let your life be controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit to live in us and teach and guide us in the way we should live. (See: John 14:26, 15:26). We should never need to walk in darkness (John 8:12). We are encouraged to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in order to emulate the way Jesus lived (See: Rom. 4:12, 8:4; Eph. 5:8; 1 John 2:6).

- “Will not carry out the desire of the flesh” - James says is clearly in his letter: “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” (Jam. 1:14-16)
John echos this thought, “Do not love the world, nor things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” (1 John 2:15,16).

Flesh or world - both refer to living without Jesus or the Holy Spirit directing the way you live.
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17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

Vs. 17 - “These are in opposition to one another” - Who is in control of your life? There are only two choices - you, or Jesus by the Holy Spirit. No one can serve two masters. (Matt. 6:24; Luk. 16:13) This world is the Devil’s playground. He is the prince of this world. (See: Eph. 2:2) He is opposed to God (he wanted to supplant God, or to be equal to God). If you follow Satan’s leading you will NOT live according to God’s will. You might accidentally do something correctly.
If you follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, you WILL live according to God’s will. The Holy Spirit will not lead you in directions that are opposed to the Father. God cannot oppose Himself. It is likely that you may fail to listen to the Holy Spirit in some situations. This does not mean you have turned yourself over to Satan, but have committed a sin. God had provided a remedy for this. The relationship can be restored by your confession and repentance. (See: 1 John 1:8, 9)

- “So that you may not do the things that you please” - The “things you please” are actions and a way of life that opposes God. Left to our desires, we will sin. Again, look back at James 1:14-16. It is also possible to do good works, and work at living a good life without the Holy Spirit. Jesus was pretty clear that working to show how good you can be is not the same a living for Him, listening to Him, seeking Jesus for guidance and direction. See: Matt. 7:20-23.
We are saying, “Lord, look at all the great things I have done, for You!” That is the problem - “I have done...” Jesus said, “Without Me, you can do nothing!” (John 15:5).
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18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Vs. 18 - “Led by the Spirit” - Jesus promised the Holy Spirit - the Helper, the Advocate - would be in us and with us forever! (John 14:16) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will cleanse us of all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). “If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood Jesus, His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7). When we believe in Jesus Christ we are moved from enemies of God to friends. It is better than no longer enemies; we are now children of God.

- “Not under the Law” - That shackle has been shattered. This goes a step further than the conclusion reached at the big confab in Jerusalem (See: Acts 15:1-21.) The conclusion there was that Gentiles were not to be troubled by demands of the Law - they could come to Christ just as they are. We can infer the Law was still important to the conference of leaders, but not so much as to hinder Gentile believers.
Paul, here led by the Holy Spirit takes a quantum leap. The Law is not a bothersome bump in the spiritual road. The Law is useless. It is a hindrance. The Law will draw you away from Jesus. Under the Law, you focus on what you are doing for God.

It is crucial for us to understand: It is not what we can do for God. It is what God has done for us. He has sacrificed Himself for our sins. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8). The barrier of the Law - the sacrifices, the holy days, the festivals, the offerings - has been stripped away. All that has been fulfilled at the cross.
The cross is the only barrier between you as a sinner and an enemy of God, and you as a friend and child of God. That cross is the only way to cross the immense chasm between Holy God and sinful man. It is not a cross you have to bear. It is a gift you get to accept. It is totally your choice. Believe and be saved. He offers you an abundant life, free from sin, free from guilt and shame if you allow Him to control and empower you day-by-day, moment-by-moment.

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